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Ship Details
Began service: June, 2002
Guest capacity: 793
Total staff: 443
Length: 704 feet
Passenger decks: 8
CDC
inspection score: 92
Prinsendam Overview
The Prinsendam cruise ship departs from Fort Lauderdale,
FL, Rome, Itay, and Lisbon, Spain. Throughout the
year, she offers ocean cruises to Caribbean, Europe, and Mediterranean.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Caribbean, Europe, and Mediterranean.
Prinsendam, which in earlier incarnations was
called Royal Viking Sun and then Seabourn
Sun, joined Holland
America's fleet in 2002 and is marketed as the cruise
line's "Elegant Explorer." The name is fitting
for a ship known for its longer range, exotic itineraries,
most notably the 100-plus-day "Grand World
Voyages."
Holland America spent $30 million to update and refurbish
the ship, built in 1988. Additions included a new alternative
restaurant; a Lido buffet restaurant; an Internet Cafe;
a new volleyball/basketball court and "virtual reality"
golf simulator; a revamped entertainment lounge; a dedicated
smoking room, and 14 additional staterooms, bringing the
Prinsendam's total passenger capacity to 793.
Holland America hired the ship's original architect, Sweden-native
Tomas Tillberg, to reconfigure the Prinsendam's
public spaces, and brought in Frans Dingemanns of the
Netherlands to showcase an impressive collection of original
artwork. The wood paneling, hardwood flooring and chrome
and brass accents gives the ship an Old World feel that
is perhaps the ship's biggest draw.
Cabins
While Prinsendam has the usual range of
staterooms and suites, they are typically smaller than
those on the line's newer ships. Some of the staterooms
are irregularly shaped, a difference from today's identical
staterooms, which are installed as pre-built modular units. |
The ship has a 38 percent ratio of cabins with balconies, which is
a low number these days. If you prefer balcony cabins, it's best to
book early, as staterooms with verandas sell out quickly.
Many cabin categories on the Prinsendam feature walk-in closets.
And, a good number of even the smallest-sized cabins have generous
bathrooms, with full-length tubs, upgraded fixtures and color schemes.
Single cabins are also available, which means passengers traveling
solo are not forced to book a double stateroom.
Suites offer additional amenities, including separate
sleeping and living areas, curved sofas with large coffee tables,
and longer verandahs. The bathrooms in Superior Verandah Suites
feature large tubs and sinks connected by a door to a separate room
holding a toilet and sink. Holland America has built some special
garden villa cabins out onto the Promenade's
Aft Deck; these "lanai" cabins have semiprivate
terraces, surrounded by glass. Passengers who book these cabins have
sole use of this area's amenities, which include tables for al fresco
dining and a whirlpool.
The Prinsendam is one ship where it pays to splurge on more
expensive accommodations. Higher priced cabins come with use of the
Neptune Lounge, which features coffee,
tea and snack services, newspapers, a private library with books and
games, and an excellent selection of Lonely Planet guidebooks. The
Neptune Lounge also has its own verandah -- it runs
right up to the edge of the Bridge.
Dining
Prinsendam doesn't offer the options of some of today's
megaships, but the personal service, ambiance and attention to detail
more than make up for it.
The LaFontaine Dining Room is the centerpiece of
mealtime. It features wraparound windows with fabulous views and Holland
America's elegant Rosenthal china and white linens. There are two
seatings and table mates are assigned. LaFontaine
has just a few tables for two.
The Lido Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. It features an assortment of entrees, many cooked to order.
Sandwiches and individually baked pizzas are made to order as well.
It's a pleasant change from the steam-tray fare on the buffet lines
of other ships. Outside seating is available and crew members are
on hand to carry trays and fetch drinks.
Another casual option at lunchtime is the Terrace Grill,
near the midship pool, which offers a menu of burgers, hot dogs, chicken
sandwiches and French fries.
The 52-seat Pinnacle Grill at the Odyssey,
the ship's alternative restaurant, is beautiful and serves meals on
Bulgari china. The restaurant's menus feature mostly Northwest-inspired
cuisine, such as Chicken Thai soup, Dungeness crab legs, grilled salmon,
and duck breast with pickled Walla Walla onions. Filet mignon, lamb
chops and cioppino are also offered, along with porterhouse and ribeye
steaks. There is a $15 per person charge to eat at the Pinnacle
Grill.
Special food-related events offered on every cruise include both Dutch-
and Indonesia-themed dinners, and the Royal Dutch Tea. On the Grand
World Voyage, the themed dinners coincide with the various
exotic ports of call.
Room service is available 24 hours a day. Passengers with special
dietary needs are asked to advise Holland America about these needs
at the time of booking.
Entertainment
Onboard activities during the day include the usual assortment of
port lectures, art auctions, trivia contests and such. On the Grand
World Voyage, you can expect elaborate scavenger hunts, cooking,
painting classes and dance classes. At night there are music performances
(from dance trios to pianists to ensemble quartets) in the ship's
lounges, and spectacular shows in the Queen's Lounge.
The Filipino and Indonesian crew members take great pride in hosting
a show of their native song and dance, usually once per cruise.
The Wajang Theater screens daily movies accompanied
by free popcorn.
Fitness & Recreation
The spa on Prinsendam is gorgeous.
The spa offers the usual services (massages, body wraps, facials)
as does the adjacent Beauty Salon. The facility will
become a Greenhouse Spa as part of Holland America's
fleet-wide "Signature of Excellence" initiative,
a $225-million, two-year enhancement program. The fitness facility
on Prinsendam is small but adequate. Fitness classes are
held on a daily basis. A nice touch in the fitness area is a mini-fridge
stocked with chilled towels for those who have overheated during workouts.
The pool on the aft deck is suitable for lap swimming. Beyond the
aft pool, the ship's main pool area is a hub on sunny days and has
a swim-up bar. Other recreational activities nclude the golf simulation
center, walking track, and the tennis court.
One of the most enjoyable features of the ship is its quarter-mile
promenade, located on deck 7. It
is an unobstructed walkway, perfect for leisurely strolls, star gazing,
or relaxing on wood loungers.
Public Areas
The ship's main theater, the Queen's
Lounge, seats 424, and offers the latest in high-tech lighting
and acoustics.
The Ocean Bar on Prinsendam is situated
in the center of the ship's main public deck and offers fabulous people-watching.
It is a great location for a shipboard seminar or meeting friends
for drinks. There's also a bandstand and dance floor.
The Explorers Lounge is another impressive space,
featuring mahogany-stained wooden walls, old fashioned venetian blinds
covering the windows, and leather armchairs.
The art collection for auctions has its own boutique with windows
fronting the promenade deck. The ship also features a well-equipped
Internet Cafe, offering laptop computer rentals and
access to wireless Internet connections.
The Prinsendam includes a version of the Java Cafe,
the coffee bar found on other Holland America ships. The Cafe serves
cappuccino and espresso at no extra charge and is adjacent to the
casino. which may be one of the smallest we've seen on a mid-sized
ship. It offers basic gaming and slots, including 10-cent slot machines.
The Oak Room's dark wood walls, leather furnishings
and (fake) fireplace are reminiscent of gentlemen's clubs. Other public
room highlights include the Erasmus Library and the
Half Moon (card and game) area.
Holland America's signature Crow's Nest observation
lounge features a a grand piano that sets the tone for the evening
entertainment.
Kids
The ship offers "Club
Hal" children's programming, with staff counselors onboard
the majority of sailings. However, with longer and more exotic itineraries,
this is not an ideal ship for children.
Expert Prinsendam reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Caribbean, Europe, and Mediterranean.
Prinsendam cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Prinsendam Score:
92
Cruise
Critic: Prinsendam
The Cruise Critic gives Holland America's Prinsendam a 3-ribbon
rating.
Web links
Holland
America Cruises
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Holland
America Cruises at the company's official Web site.
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